Apparatus for dry cleaning



V0ct`20, 1936. c;l G, WATSON I 2,058,278

APPARATUS FOR DR CLEANING IN VENTOR.

, ATTORNEY.)1

Oct. 20, 1936. c. G. wATsoN APPARATUS FOR DRY CLEANING 4 Sheets-Sheetl 2Filed June 26, 1955 INVENTOR Oct. 20, 1936. c, Q WATSON `2,058,278

APPARATUS FOR DRY CLEANING Filed June 26, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEYJ'I Oct. 20, 1936. y Q Q WATSON 2,058,278

APPARATUS FOR DRY CLEANING Filed June 26, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 00000000000000 OOOOOO INVENTOR. 6710/4/25 /Zfo/ v BY ATTORNEY.;

Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DRYCLEANING Charles G. Watson, Youngstown, Ohio Application June 26, 1933,Serial No. 677,625

2 Claims.

This invention relates as indicated to a method of andV apparatus fordry cleaning, but has reference more particularly to certainimprovements in the usual cleaning processes and in the construction ofVvarious units of the apparatus employed therein.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a compactly arranged drycleaning apparatus which shall perform the various functions ofcleaning, extracting, drying and deodorizing in a series of successiveoperations without necessitating the transfer or removal of the articlesto be cleaned from the cylinder or basket in which they are initiallyplaced.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of means for efficientlyand economically reclaiming the cleaning solvent employed in theprocess. Other objects 0i the invention are the provision of an improvedconstruction of the cleaning cylinder or basket, theV shell enclosing'said basket and the supporting structure therefor; the incorporation ofa heating unit in said.r shell; the provision of a trap for absorbinglmoisture extracted from the articles cleaned, and reducing to a minimumthe corrosive effects due to the circulation oi such moisture throughthe apparatus, and the provision of a single unit including a lint trap,condenser and condensate sump.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims. The. annexed drawings and the followingdescription set forth in detail certain means and one mode of carryingout the invention, suchv disclosed means and modeillustrating, however,but one oi various ways in which theprincipleo thev invention may beused.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic View oi the appa-y ratus and the arrangement ofthe piping therefor; the upper portion ciA the Viewy showing certainparts of the apparatus in front elevation and:

the'l'ower portion of the View showing certain other parts of theapparatus in plan; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of theWasher; Fig. 3A is a transverse crosszsectional` view-of the washer;Figs. 4 to v8 inclusive are detail viewst of the Washer construction;Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive are detail views of the lint. trap, condenser,and" condensate sump construction; and Figs. 13 to 15 inclusive aredetail views of the solvent trap con-- struction..

The apparatus as illustrated more or. less diagrammatically in Fig. 1comprisessolvent storage tanks. I and 2, a solvent still 3 interposedbetween the storage'tanks, a condenser 4 mounted on the still, a iilter5,' a combination Washer and heater 6, a sol-vent trap "I, a pump 8, acombination lint trap,` condenser and condensate sump 9, and av ian I0,all of which are interconnected by piping to form a continuous circuityas Willbe hereinafter explained. y y

In addition there are provided suitable valves, sight glasses,couplings, motors and electrical equipment, the location and nature ofwhich will 'appear as the description proceeds.

The combination Washer and heater unit 6 is? shown more clearlyA in Figs2 to 8 inclusive. Thisunit includes a supporting structure com-v prisingpairs of spaced apart end plates. II and. I?. which rest upon and arewelded to abase plate or platform I3z and are connected by spaced irontandV rear plates M- and vI5 respectively. Secured as by welding to theupper edges of endY plates I2 and front and rear plates I4 and I5 arepillow block bearing supporting plates I6, which, terminate short of theendvplates II,. theresulting space being taken up by opposite sidesI'I'and I8` of a rectangular supporting frame I9, which is secured as byWelding to the upper. ed'gesof'plates II., I4 and I'5- and the inneredges ofV plates I6... Y

The upper edges ofthe sides I1 and |81 of supporting frame I9 areprovided with semi-circular recessesV ZIl i-nwhich are received stuingboxes 2-I- provided with the usual adjustable glands 22- and stuing orpacking 23. The frame I9 servesV as a support. Vfor the outturnedhorizontal flange' 24 of the'semi-cylindrical lower half 25 of .theWasher shell .or housing, this half of the Washer. shell being providedin its lowermost portion with. a longitudinally extending sump 26. vSump26 is in communication with a drain pipe 2,1Which extends throughy theend plates II and I2. Abovev the lower half 25. of the Washer shell ispositioned the upper half-28 of the Washer shell orhousing, this haltbeing likewise provided with an outturnedflangel which rests upon, butis separated from, the ilange 24 by a gasket 30. Aseo-l tionalframeconsisting of pair of U-shaped irame members-3| is positioned ony theflange 29, a'ndjV screws 32 are provided to secure the frame and' the.upperand lower halves of the Washer shell"v toeachother aswell. as tothe supporting frame. I9. The upper half 28 of the'washer shell has avrectangular opening. 33 through which the articles to be cleaned areadapted to; bepassed. This openingis adapted to be closed by the.load-.- ing door 34. which is mounted for pivotal move. mentabout 'pins'35' and isv adaptedy to be held in closed position by means of latches36. The door 34 has secured to its inner surface a gasket 36 and alining plate 31 which is smaller than the gasket and therefore leavesthe marginal portion of the gasket exposed, such exposed marginalportion of the gasket engaging the L-shaped flange of the shell 28.Flange 38 embraces a frame 39 which is mounted on the shell 28.

The upper half 28 of the washer shell, instead of being madesubstantially semi-cylindrical as is the lower half of the shell, hasits rear portion formed to provide a chamber or compartment 40 which isseparated from the main portion of the shell by means of a partitionplate or baille 4|, provided with a. series of longitudinally spacedopenings 42. A U-shaped heater coil 43 extends longitudinally throughthe compartment 40 and is provided' with an inlet 44 and an outlet 45for steam or other suitable heating medium. The function of this heaterwill be presently described.

The washer proper comprises a cylindrical basket 46 having amultiplicity of perforations 41 and imperforate heads 48. The heads 48have riveted thereto reinforcing conical members 49 to which are weldedtubular members 50 into which extend trunnions 5|. The members 50 passthrough the stuing boxes 2|, and the trunnions are suitably journaled inpillow block bearings 52 which are supported by the plates 6. Secured tothe interior surface of the` basket 46 and extending longitudinallythereof are perforated baffles 53 of U-shaped cross section. The basket46 is provided with an opening 46a through which the articles to becleaned are introduced into the basket, and this opening is adapted tobe closed by a door 46bwhich, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, is slidablecircumferentially of the basket in guides 46c secured to the basketadjacent the opening 46a. This door is provided with a manually operablelatching device (not shown) whereby the door is positively held ineither closed or open position.

The conduit 21 which extends from the lower half of the washer shell isin communication with an uptake conduit 54 which in turn is incommunication with the lint trap and condenser unit 9, the detailconstruction of which will now be described, reference being hadparticularly to Figs. 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

The condenser comprises a cylindrical casing 55, closed at the bottom bya flanged disc 56 and at the top by the casing 51 of a fan 58, anopenended tube 59, which is secured to the casing 51, serving toestablish communication between the interior of casings 55 and 51.Surrounding the lower end of tube 59 but spaced therefrom is a condensercoil 60 provided with a water inlet 6| and a water outlet 62. Aninclined bulkhead or baille plate 63 is disposed beneath the condenser`coil, and a sight glass 64 permits the condensate which drips over theplate 63 into the sump below to be observed. An outlet 65 is providedfor the removal of the condensate which has collected on the bottom 56.The casing 55 has secured thereto adjacent its front end a horizontallydisposed cylindrical casing 66, with which the uptake conduit 54communicates. Casing 55 is also provided with a circular opening 61which is concentric with the casing 66, and surrounding this opening andsecured to the casing 55 is a collar 68. Collar 68 provides a supportfor a lint trap which consists of a pair of concentric suitablyreinforced cupshaped screens 69 and 10, the inner screen 10 beingpreferably of a coarser mesh than the outer screen 69. The constructionof the lint trap is such that it may be readily slipped olf the collar68 when it is desired to remove the trap. In order to gain access to thelint trap for the purpose of inspecting or removing same, a cover 1| isprovided, this cover being normally in engagement with a gasket ring 12at the base of an annular member 13 which is welded or otherwise securedto the casing 66 adjacent the end thereof. An air-tight engagement ofthe cover with the gasket is secured by means of a toggle-action lockingdevice comprising a lever 14 which is pivoted to the casing 66 as at 15,and a yoke 16 which is pivoted to a lug 11 extending from the cover 1|and to the ends of the lever 14. By moving the lever 14 to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 11, the cover 1| is released and may bemoved aside so as to permit access to the lint trap. The fan 58 isadapted to be driven by a motor 18 which is mounted on the casing 51.When a gate valve 19 is open, air blown by the fan 58 enters the washershell. Auxiliary gate valves and 8| are also provided for the purpose ofopening the washer shell and fan casing respectively to the atmosphere.

The solvent trap 1 is shown most clearly in Figs. 13 to l5 inclusive,and comprises a cylindrical casing 82 having an'inlet 83 and an outlet84, and closed at the bottom as by a anged disc 85. Supported on thedisc 85 is a removable lter unit comprising a perforated plate 86 havingan upstanding ange 81 at its edge, said plate having secured thereto apair of vertically extending screens 88, between which is interposed asuitable moisture absorbent 89 such, for example, as cotton waste. Thefilter unit is so disposed that the screens 88 and interposed cottonwaste form a wall extending diametrically across the casing 82, so thatall liquid which enters they inlet 83 must pass through this wall beforereaching the outlet 84. The casing 82 is normally closed at the top by acover 90 which is similar in all respects to the cover 1| of the casing66 and is adapted to be locked in closed position by toggle meanssimilar to that employed for locking the cover 1|.

'Ihe operation of the apparatus will now be described, reference beinghad particularly to the diagrammatic View of Fig. 1.

The apparatus has been designed particularly with a View to the use ofcarbon tetrachloride, trichlorethylene, and other non-inflammable,non-explosive cleaning solvents, such solvents being capable of beingevaporated without residual odors and of cleaning the most delicatefabrics without injury thereto. Other advantages of such solvents arethat they do not separate on fractional distillation and may thereforebe redistilled and used over and over with extremely slight loss.

In lling the apparatus with the solvent, carbon tetrachloride forexample, all of the valves are closed and a connection is establishedbetween the solvent drum (no-t shown) and valve |00. Valves |00, |0| and|02 are then opened and the solvent forced by motor driven pump 8 intostorage tank 2. After tank 2 is lled, valve |02 is closed and valve |03opened and tank is filled. The pump is then stopped and the open valvesclosed.

The lter 5 is then lled with solvent. This is accomplished by openingvalves |03 and |84, thereby permitting the solvent to flow from tank 2into the lower half 25 of the washer shell. Valve |02 is then closed andvalve |05 and air release petcock |06 on top of the lter opened. Pump 8is then vstarted and pressure gauge |01 observed. When the filter isfull, the solvent will overflow through petcock |06, and the pressuregauge indicate an increased pressure.

PumpY a is then stopped andpetcock |06 "and all the valves are closed.Air. vent |085. is opened.

The basket 46 is thenloaded withfapredetermined weight of varticles tobe cleaned', it` being desirable not to load the basket morethan apiproXimatelytwo-thirds of its volume-capacity. Valves |02 and |04 arethen opened and the washer shell and basket filled: with solvent -to apredetermined level. Valve |`02 isvthenf closed, valves |05and |09opened and pump 8 started'. The basket is then rotated at a slow speed;`i. e., about 25 R. P. M., by motor ||0 through reduction gear enclosedin housing III, alternately in each direction for periods of"about'twenty'seconds. During this washing process, the. solvent is beingcontinuously drawn from sump 26 through conduit 21 and outlet ||2 intoinlet 83 of the solvent trap, through the filter unit in the solventtrap, through outlet 84, through the lter 5 and back into the washershell.. In this manner` dirt and other foreign matter are removed fromthe articles in the basketandrde.- posited in the lter so thatthearticles are always being washed in clean solvent.. When the solventappears clear through the sight glass I I3, valve |02 is opened, valve|04 closed, and the solvent pumped into tank 2. When the sight glass ||3shows that solvent is no longer passing therethrough, valve |0Iis'opened, valves |05' and |09 closed, and rotation of thebasketstopped. The washing period varies from about ten to fifteenminutes according tothe nature of the load.

With the pump still operating, the basketis rotated in onedirectionathigh speed, i`. e., about 500-l R. P. M., for about three Atove minutes, so as ,to extract as much solvent as possible from thewasherA and articles therein'. This operation is generally designated asextraction. After this operation the basket and pump are stopped and theload is ready for drying.

The small amount of solvent remaining in the articles is recoveredduring the ,drying operation. For this purpose, valve 19 isopenedand'valves 80'v and 8| closed and the basket rotated at low speedas inA the washing` operation, and the fan 58 set in operation. At thesame time, steamhis'introduced through valve H5. into inletJ 44 passingthrough the heater coil 43 and out through the outlet 45. This steamheats the air which is blown into the compartment 40 of the washer shelland the heated air issues from the openings 42 and into the washerbasket vaporizing the remaining solvent in the articles. The vapor ladenair passes through conduit 21 and uptake conduit 54 and enters thecasing 66. Any lint which is carried by the stream of air is trapped byand deposited on the screen 69 which is preferably cleaned after eachcleaning cycle. The vapor laden air then passes downwardly into casing55, the vaporized solvent being condensed by the coil 60 and falling onthe bulkhead 63. The vapor free air then passes upwardly through tube 59and is recirculated through the Washer by the fan. The recovery of thevaporized solvent may be observed through the sight glass 64, and whensolvent ceases to drip from the bulkhead 63, the drying is completed.The drying operation usually requires from about ten to thirty minutes,depending upon the nature of the load, and at the close thereof, theflow of steam through the heater coil is stopped as well as the flow ofwater through the condenser coil. Periodically, the condensate at thebottom of casing 55 is removed by After the last load has been washed,all of the I solvent except that in the lter ispumped into the storagetanks and all of the valves'are then closed.

When the solvent attains a dark amber co-lor due to the dissolvedgreases, fats and oils, it may be distilled. This is. accomplished byopening valves |02 or |03'and |04, thereby drainingv the solvent fromthe storage tanks into the washer. Valve |02 or |03, whichever has beenopened, is closedand valves |0| and are opened and the pump 8 started,thereby. pumping the solventinto the still 3. Valve VI I8 or ||9depending on which of the storage tanks is empty is then opened andwater admitted. into' the coil in .condenser 4. 'VSteam is then admittedinto the still. through valve |20 and the solvent vaporized, passingupwardly into the condenser. The condensed solventmay be, observed as itflows past the sight glass 2| or |22. Sludge may be removed from thestill through valve |23.' Provision. is also made for draining andlcleaning the filter 5i. If all of the valves have beenpreviouslyclosed, valves. |09 and |24 and petcock |05 are opened, all of thesolvent in the iilter being. .thus drained into the washer, entering theconduit 21a-t the opening |25.. The open. Valves andpetcock are thenclosed. Valves |0| and IIT are then opened, and Ythe drainedsolventpumped into the still. The pump is then stopped, all valvesclosed, and valves |05 and |26. opened. Steam is then admitted into acoil (not shown) in the lower portion of filter 5 through lvalve |21',`there-r Among other advantages of providing a hori-V Zontally splitshell and separate supporting frame therefor, may be enumerated thefollowing: (l) The assembly of the shell aswell as the removal of theupper half thereof for inspection and removal of the basket are greatlyfacilitated. (2) All of the load, except the weight of the solvent usedin washing, is carried outside of the basket on rigid bearing supports,thereby permitting the washer shell to be made of light gauge sheets.(3) The shell being made of light gauge material permits the attainmentof rapid changes of temperature during the injection of hot air in thedrying operation and of cold air during the freshening operation. Due tothe light construction and design of the shell, it does not absorb agreat deal of heat during the drying operation and consequently coolsvery rapidly for the next Washing operation. In this connection it mayalso be noted (see Figs. 5 and 6) that except for the flange 24, thewasher shell does not touch the supporting structure which may be ofsteel and consequently very little heat is conducted from the shell tosuch supporting structure. The corrosive effect upon metals of carbontetrachloride in combination with Water or moisture increases as thetemperature rises. Consequently it is of the utmost importance that thewashing operation be conducted at as loW a temperature as possible, andsuch temperature as above stated is easily attained as a result of thepresent construction. (4) The light gauge construction of the Washershell permits the use of the novel light Weight loading door which hasbeen previously described and which may be curved to the same contour asthe shell and stretched tightly over the door opening With small lightWeight clamping bolts.

Among other. advantages of incorporating the heater as an integral partof the Washer shell may be mentioned the following: (l) The eliminationof long air pipe connections and the con-A duction of heat in closeproximity to the Washer during the drying operation, thereby obtainingrapid drying of the. articles being cleaned. (2) It permitsv the hot airto be brought into the top of the Washer shell and removed at thebottom, thereby accelerating the drying operlation, since air laden withsolvent fumes is heavy and tends to settle to the bottom of the Washershell. The natural flow of solvent laden air being from the top of theshell to the bottom, this condition is best attained by placing theheater at the top of and inside of the Washer shell.

The Wall of cotton Waste in the solvent trap 1 is particularly effectivein absorbing the moisture extracted from the articles during the washingand extracting operations, thereby reducing to a minimum the corrosiveeffect of carbon tetrachloride in combination with moisture. Theabsorption of this moisture also tends to increase the speed andeiciency of the subsequent drying operation. This Wall of Waste alsoremoves much of the lint and any foreign matter such as buttons, pins,etc. which might otherwise remain Yin the solvent. 'I'he flangedperforated plate V86 of the filter unit forms a basket for foreignmatter and prevents it from entering the pump.

By incorporating the lint trap condenser and condensate sump as parts ofan integral structure, the use of long air pipes is eliminated and heatlosses avoided. The induction of the solvent laden air into the top ofthe condenser casing about the tube 59 and the reversal of the directionof the air flow by the fan by taking the air from the center of thecondenser near the lower end thereof tends to precipitate the condensedsolvent onto the plate 63, thereby aiding in the attainment of rapid andefficient drylng.

Other `modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means andthe steps herein disclosed, provided those stated by any of thefollowing claims or their equivalent be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a dry cleaning apparatus, a substantially rectangular supportingframe, a Washer shell supportedon said frame, said shell comprising asemi-cylindrical lower portion having an cut- Wardly extending flangeresting onvsaid frame and an upper portion having an outwardly extendingflange disposed above said rst-named flange, a sectional frame mountedon said second-named flange and means for securing said sectional frameto said supporting frame.

2. In a dry cleaning apparatus, 4a Washer shell comprising asubstantially cylindrical member having an enlargement in the upperportion thereof formed by integral portions of said member which extendtangentially therefrom, a perforated partition plate interconnectingsaid tangentially extending portions of said member and separating saidenlargement from the balance of the cylindrical member, a U-shapedtubular member disposed in said enlargement, means for circulating steamthrough said tubular member and means for blowing air over said tubularmember and into said shell.

CHARLES G. WATSON.

